Barge



F. R HARRIS Aug. 15, 1944.

BARGE Filed May 5, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1/ mmvroa F. R. HARRIS BARGE Aug. 15, 1944.

Filed May 5; 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. Freda? [Pillar/v3 L V Q j JZTORJVEY Aug. 15, 1944.. I F. R. HARRIS Y 2,355,973

; BARGE Filed May 5, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE em Frederic It. Harris, New York, N. Y. Application May 5, 1943, Serial No. 485,705

15 Claims- This invention relates to improvements in ma rine vessels; particularly a type of barge designed to be used as a floating platformfor a lifting crane or derrick and the machinery to operate same. i

An object of the invention is to provide a barge designed to be constructed in sections which can quickly be united, so that the barge can be readily stowed and shipped to a distant point and there assembled' for use. for military and other purposes; hence the parts must be portable; not too large to be conveniently carried and handled by ordinary loading and un-' loading equipment; and capable of being easily set up and connected as required and fixed in position to make the complete unit. Preferably, in the final assembly, bolts are employed to join the parts together; for barges of this kind are often ne ded in places where mechanical facilie ties are very limited.

The illustration shows a barge in detail, em

bodying this invention; but thejstructure can of course be Varied in many ways without changing its essential character.

On the drawings: I r l Figure 1 shows the barge with ya crane mounted upon it in working position next to a ship.'

Figure 2 is a top plan of the barge when completely assembled. I

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 ,of .Fig-[ ure 2, showing one section of a longitudinal bracing member in the body of the barge.

It is adapted to serve v Figure 4 is a similar section on the IiIiC QT-JQ Q-f gu showing e section of a longitudinal bulkhead. i j. 1. Figure 5' is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2, showing part of a transverse bracing member.

Figur 6 is a section on line 5..6' .of Figure 2, showing part of a transverseframingjmember.

Figure 7 is a section alongthe line 1+] ,oi Fi r 2. show n a section of a transverse bull;- head. I

Figure 8 is aperspective view showing part of the structure of the longitudinal bracing.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the structure of one of the side sections. v

Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views show:- ing the construction of the sections used to form the bow of the barge aswell .as .of the stern thereof. Figure 12 is a top plan of the-deck and bottom plating.

Figure 13 is a bottom -plan thereof. Figure 14 is a perspective view of one of the transverse internal reinforcing elements for the outside plating.

Figure 15 is a side view showing the web or plating used in the construction of the bulkheads; and

Figure 16 is an end view .ofthe same member.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

The assembled barge is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The body I thereof carries a platform, upon which is mounted a turn table with a central.

journal to support the frame work or crane house 2; in which is the machinery for revolving the crane and lifting or lowering the boom 3. This boom is pivotally attached to the crane house, is controlled by cables and carries the usual tackle consisting of cables, pulleys and ropes, by which the boom is raised and lowered and articles of cargo are deposited in or lifted out of the hull of the vessel, indicated at 4.

The barge I is designed to be made up of number of sections, which are limited in size and capable of being easily handled and shipped. The sections can easily be assembled to build the barge in the locality where it is intended for use. In practice, none of the sections will, for example, be more than feet long and 7 feet high and somewhat less than 6- feet wide; but the Si es can of course be varied. The positions of all the interior reinforcing frame members are indicated on Figure 2. prise two longitudinal bulkheads 5. Each of these members or bulkheads consists of three sections of equal length, in line with one another and secured to the members forming transverse bulkheads and the transverse bracing and frame ing members 2! and I1 respectively. The trans? verse bulkheads-are two in number, indicated at 6 and So; each thus comprising two sections of unequal length. The longer, sections of one transverse bulkhead extends across the longitudinal center line from .one side; and the longer section Bof the other extends across the said center line from the opposite side. The points where the two sections are attached to each other are indicated at "I, each in line with one ,of the longitudinal bracing members 5a, and on 9pmsite sides of the longitudinal center line The junction of the two sections of each trans,- verse bulkhead, therefore, break joint with each other, giving a more balanced effect and great r strengthening.

Along the sides of the barge are the sections 9, each being of the same length as. one fof the sections of bulkhead 5 and afl'ixed to the ends These frame members com-1 of the transverse members of the framework. At each end of the body are sections, indicated by the numerals 8a and 3b; the former being the longer, and the two being united at the point 80. At the bow the long section 8a is at one side of the center line C-C, and at the stern the long section 8a is on the other side of the center line CC; and their inner ends extend across the center line from opposite directions. The junction points 8c each lie in the. plane of a longitudinal bracing member a; and these points are on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line C-C. These sections at bow and stern thus also tion of the bulkhead 5 and of bracing member 5a also comprises two'separated pairs of vertical angle bars l9 attached to each face thereof, making four pairs of such angle bars I9 in all. These bars I9, on each face, are spaced equidistantly from each other and from the two ends of each section of the bulkheads and bracing members, thus dividing the sections in question into three panels. In each of the panels thus marked out, there will be two vertical angle bars- I5 on each face of the section of the bulkhead-5 and section of the bracing member 5a, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 at the left. Each pair of angle bars 85 is break joint with each other; and the arrangement, further, is such that each junction point 80 and the nearest junction point 1 of the transverse bulkheads 5 are on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line 0-0; as clearly indicated in Figure 2. The two longitudinal bracing members 5a along the middle of the barge are on opposite sides'of the center line C-C; and the dis-. position of the sections of the transverse bulkheads 6 and 6a, and the bow and stem sections 8a 'and'8b, in the manner above described, enables the ends of these sections to be affixed to the two middle longitudinal bracing members in the most-convenient and advantageous manner.

Each section of the longitudinal bulkheads 5 includes-a length of web or plating ID as. long as the section and of a width'equal to thefull depth of the barge from deck to bottom. On one face of each ofthese plates are two horizontal members or stiffening ribs I l projecting outward. The construction is fully shown in Figures 4, l5 and 16. Both sides of the web It carry vertical angle bars l2 at one end to enable this section to be secured to. a similar web Id of the adjacent transverse bulkhead. This transverse bulkhead is constructed according to the same general plan as the longitudinal bulkhead with lateral ribs along oneface near the upper and lower edges. To enable the joint between the sections of the longitudinal and transverse bulkheads to be closed and tight, the ribs II of this section of the longitudinal' bulkhead terminate short of one end, as indicatedat the right in Figure 15, for a distance equal to the width of the ribs II on the adjacent transverse bulkhead; and slots or recesses |3 are cut into the adjacent end of the Web ID of this section of the longitudinal bulkhead in line with the ribs I-I thereof to receive the ribs II of the adjacent section of the transverse bulkhead; so that the end of the web Ill bulkhead 5 abuts theweb. Id. of thetransverse bulkhead and makes close contact therewith.

The section shown in Figure 4 is the fore section of the. longitudinal bulkhead 5; and the middle section will be the same except that both ends will carry angle barsIZ. Therear or aft section need have no recesses I3 in the webs Ill, and the ribs N do not terminate. short of either end.

Cooperating with the longitudinal bulkheads are the longitudinal bracing members 5a, between the longitudinal bulkheads 5 and between each of them and the side sections 9. The section of the bracing member, as shown in Figures 3 and -8, is made up of two long metal strips or plating members I4; having longitudinalribs II and vertical angle bars I2 at its rear end, and united by addi tional vertical angle bars or strips I5, attached at their lower and upper. ends to both sides of the plates [4. The bulkheads 5 have similar vertical angle bars I5 secured to the two faces of the web {.0 in thesamegtransverse planes asthe angle of theseparated at approximately equal intervals from each other and the adjacent end of the panel containing them. The spacing of the two pairs of angle bars I5 last referred to is illustrated only at the left of Figures 3 and 4, because the sections of the longitudinal bulkhead 5 and bracing member 5a in these two views are shown as broken away somewhat near the middle to save space. The'angle bars I5 mark the planes of the transverse framing members; and the angle bars I9 lie in theplanesof the. transverse bracing.

members of the framework in the barge.

The section shown in Figure 3 is at the fore part of the barge. Its plating I4 has the ribs shortened ,and contains recesses in line therewith at the end abutting the transverse bulkhead, on the right, the same as the web If! of the longitudinal bulkhead section 5, illustrated in Figures 4, 15 and 16. The middle sections of these longitudinal bracing members are of the same construction, with vertical angle bars I2 at each end; but the aft sections have full length ribs II and need no recesses I3. This arrangement of longitudinal bulkheads 5 and longitudinal bracing members 5a is fully indicated on Figure 2, which also shows the positions of the transverse'bulkhead, framing and bracing members; and shows further how the longitudinal bulkheads and bracing members extend the full length of the barge between the transverse bulkheads and therefrom to the bow and stem of the vessel. The longitudinal bulkheads 5 and bracing members 5a are approximately equal distances apart across the width of the barge. v

To the tops and bottoms of each pair of angle members l9, and between them, on the bulkheads 5 and bracing members 5a are fixed gussets I8. The gussets 'at top and bottom are united by diagonal angle bars 2 0 as indicated in Figure 5. This type of bracing. member 2| extends across the barge, there being two such bracing members 2| between the transverse bulkheads and two more between each transverse bulkhead and the bow and stern of the barge. I Also, the angle bars |5 are secured to gussets I6 in the construction of the transverse frame members, indicated as a Whole on Figure 6 by the numeral IT. For each bars [5 of the bracing members 5a, Each secpair of transverse bracing members 2|, there are six lines of framing members, spaced as shown in Figure 2; two between the bracing members 2| and two on each side thereof. 7

The plating sections for the deck and bottom of the barge are indicated by the numeral 22. Each section is as long as one of the sections of the longitudinal bulkhead and as wide as the interval between two adjacent longitudinal bracing members 5a. Around the edges of these plating sections and on theinner faces thereof are welded angle bars 23. These sections are also crossbraced by angle elements, which are recessed or-serrated as at 25 along their edges, which are secured to the inner faces of the sections 22; the remaining Web or flange of these elements 24 being spaced away from the plates and parallel therewith, The elements 24 areattached to the plates by welding and are about as long as the inside width of these plates between the angle members 23. The plating sections 22 are placed over the spaces between the longitudinal members of the interior framework; the gussets l6 and Ill being also bolted to the members 24 to complete the bracing and framing members 2| and I1; and the deck and bottom plating in thus held securely in position.

.The side sections 9, each of which is as long as one of the bulkhead sections 5, are made up with top plating 26, side plating 21 which is curved downward andinward at the bottom, and ribs 28; also horizontal angle beams 29 along the inner edge of the top plating 26 and the lower inner edge of the side plating 21. The ribs 28, when the sections 9 are in place, are in the planes of the transverse bulkheads, framing members l1, bracing members 2|. To the. framing members they are attached by the gussets l6 and to the bracing members by the gussets I8. The angle bars 29 match with the angle bars 23 along the sides of the adjacent plating sections for the deck and bottom, and are bolted thereto. The upper and lower corners of the'ribs 28 are cut out to permit the inset of the bars 29 flush with the straight edges of the ribs.

At the ends of the transverse bulkheads there are Vertical angle bars 30, and the terminal ribs 28 of the side sections in line with these bulkheads have vertical angle bars 30 on both faces along their inner edges to abut the angle bars 30 on the transverse bulkheads and enable said bulkheads to be aifixed to the side sections, at their outer ends.

A rib 28 at the end of a side section appears in Figure 9. There will be such a rib at the .rear end of the fore and mid sections 9, but no such rib is needed at either extremity of the aft sections 9.

'Thebow and stern sections 8a and 8b each has top plating 31 and side plating 32, which is vertical near the top and slants inward and downward and then is bent horizontally inward over the remainder of its width. Along the inner edges of the top plating and side plating at the bottom are transverse angle bars 34 and 35 respectively. On the inside, attached to the top plating and the side plating are ribs 33, so spaced, when these portions are attached, as to 'be in line with the longitudinal bulkheads 5 and the longitudinal bracing 5a; and on each side of these ribs between the angle bars 34 and 35 are vertical angle bars "36. The edges of the ribs 33 to which angle bars 36 are aflixed are vertical; the opposite edges are inclined and converge toward these vertical edges. The angle bars 35 abut the vertical angle bars 31 and 31' at the fore and aft ends of the longitudinal bulkheads 5 and bracing members 511, "respectively, and on both sides thereof, for securing the bow and stern sections to the barge. The horizontal angle bars 34 and 35 match and register with the angle bars 23 across the ends of the adjacent deck and bottom plates and may be secured thereto by bolting. The .ribs '33 are cut out at top and bottom to receive the angle bars -34 "and 35 flush with the straight vertical edges of these ribs; and the vertical .angle bars 35 are also flush with said edges.

Figures 10 and 11 show the two sections 8a and 81) for the bow sections.

The former has a It rib 33 at its inner end, with two vertical angle bars 36. The other, 8b, as no such rib at its inner end but is open there, with a bent angle bar 32a along the edge of its plating 32, to be bolted to the rib 33. The bar 32a extends along the lower face of the top plating 3|. The stem sections are similar to bow sections.

To fill the corners at the bow and stern of the barge, the sections 8a and 8b have their ends in line with the side sections 9 curved as shown in Figures 10 and 11. The plating 32 is cut away at one lower corner to match the curvature of the bottom of the side sections; and plating So for the sections 8a and 91) for the section 8b is attached to cover the curved ends. This curved plating extends from the top plating 3| down to the horizontal portion 32b at the bottom of the plating 32 and merges therewith. The right end of the section 8b for the bow can now be united to the front end of the adjacent side section, shown at the left in Figure 9, and angle bars 38 along the adjacent edges of the plates 9b and 21 are bolted in place to close the seam or joint between the plates 21 and 9b as far down as the bottom angle bar 29. The section 8a will similarly fit over and be secured to the side section 9 at the left. The ends of the stern sections will be shaped like the ends of the bow sections to be connected to the longitudinal framework, and to the ends of the aft sections 9. The bow, stern and side sections may all be made up in the form illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 by welding the parts together, to unite all edges and ends.

The construction above described enables the barge to be easily assembled at the place of use, even by unskilled labor. In practice, the webs l0 and I0 and all the vertical angle bars, the gussets l6 and 18, the plates l4, the vertical portions or flanges of the horizontal angle bars 23 of the deck and bottom plating, and the vertical portions of the horizontally extending angle bars in the side sections and the bow and stem sections, as well as any other parts, can all be drilled where necessary to provide bolt holes. Some few of such holes are indicated in Figure 9 at the left and on Figures 3, 5 and 9, to show all being unnecessary. Thus, by the use of bolts and nuts, the barge can be assembled in remote places and the vessel put into condition for use even where no welding outfits are available. It is. of course, within the scope of the invention to use gaskets or lining strips of lead or other material as packing between the various parts secured by the bolts, so that all the joints are perfectly tight and leakproof, especially those on or near the outside of the barge. The bolts engaging the flanges 23 mostly hold three parts; two flanges and another member-- web or plate between them. This design reduces the'number of bolts. All the bolts can be attac'h'ed on the interior of the barge. The barge will also have pumps.

No pumping machinery is shown but it is understood that such apparatus may easily be provided. On the deck plating are suitable cleats 4-3 boliards 44 for mooring purposes and manholes 45 may be provided wherever lhey are needed.

When the deck and bottom plates are put in p'lace,the angle bars '23 and 24 will abut upon the ribs I, and the vertical angle bars where not surmounted by the ribs will assist at the ends thereof. Thus the bars 23 will be engaged on enough 'of the sides of "the plates to steady them imposition for bolting them fast. The barge can of course be as easily taken down asit is assemb1ed.' j I The deck and bottomedges. of the plates [4 and the webs Ill and in may be flush with the plates 22 and lie snugly between them, or theedges of the plates 22 may abut and overlap the edges of the plates l4 and the webs I andlfl. Having described my inventionpwhat I believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A barge having frame members extending lengthwise thereof, bow and stern sections having-vertical ribs therein, angle bars along the edges of said ribs and at the ends of said mem bers for securing said ribs andmembers together, transverse frame members, side sections" having vertical ribs, and angle bars at the edges ofsaid ribs in the side sections and the ends of said transverse members for bolting the side sections nn Qe- :2, A barge. comprising frame .rnembers, bow, stern and side sections, and deck and bottom plating, said bow and stern sections having ver tical: ribs with fore and aft edges converging downward toward the bottom of the barge, plating onthe tops and outer faces of said sections to supplement the deck and bottom plating, and abutting angle bars on the inner edges of said ribs and adjacent ends of the frame members for the purposes set forth.

3. A barge comprising frame members, bow, stern and side sections, and deck and bottom plating, the bow and stern sections having vertical ribs with fore and aft edges converging downward to wards the bottom of the barge, the side sections also having vertical ribs rounded at their lower ends from the outer to the inner edges, angle bars on the inner edges of the ribs and the adjacent ends of the frame members to enable the bow, stern and side sections to be attached, horizontal angle bars along the inner faces of the 'bow and stern sections, the deck and bottom plat-' ing at bow and stem having parts to be secured to the last-named bars, and plating on the tops and outer faces of'the bow, stern, and side sections to supplement the deck and bottom plating. 1.4., Thebarge, according to claim 2, with the bow and stem sections also havinghorizontal angle bars at the top and bottom, and the adjacent edges of the deck and bottom platinghave in'g parts to be attached to said angle bars.

A barge comprising frame members, bow, stern and side sections, and deck and bottom rplating, the side sections having vertical ribs, said ribs being rounded at their lower ends from the outer to the inner edges, plating along the outeredges of said ribs and over the ends there'- of to supplement the deck and bottom, plating vertical angle bars along the inner' edges of the ribs and'adjacent ends of said members, and horizontal angle bars along the top and bottom of said side sections, the adjacent edges of the top and bottom plating having parts to be en-' gaged thereby. r v y 6. A barge provided with longitudinal bulkheads, each having three sections united end to end, the jointed ends lying on both sides of the transverse center line of the barge, and transverse bulkheads, each consisting of sections of unequal length united end to end, with the jointed ends lying on both 'sides of the long-it'udinal center line of the barge.

, 7. A barge having frame members, deck and bottom plates ainxed to the members, sidesec tions, and bow and stem sections, the latterbe ing in two unequal lengths at bow and stem and joined end-to end, said jointed ends at bowand plate, said members being in sections, a-bulk head intersecting the members and having a web between sections thereof, and vertical angle bars at the point of intersection for connecting the web and the plates.

9. A barge constructed of frame members and outside plating, the members comprising a longitudinal bulkhead in sections, each having a web therein and a stiffener rib along the web near the bottom and top, and bracing members paral lelwith the bulkhead, in sections, each having plates near bottom and top, said plates having stiffener ribs along one side, a bulkhead intersecting the first-named bulkhead and the bracing members between the ends of adjacent'sece tions thereof; said additional bulkhead having a web affixed to the first-named web and said;

plates.

10. The barge according 'to claim 9, wherein the frame members also comprise transverse bracing and frame members, and vertical angle bars to unite same to said plates and the web of the longitudinal bulkhead.

11. A barge according to claim 5, wherein the bow and stern sections also have vertical ribs, and angle bars attached to same and the ends of frame members adjacent thereto, with packing for all the outside joints of the barge.

12. A'barge having a framework and outside plating thereon, said framework comprising bulkheads and horizontal stiffening members along the tops on some of the faces of said bulkheads, the uppermost edges of the bulkheads extending above said members, said plating in-. cluding sections with flanges at their rims, said members engaging flanges on said sections when the sectionsare put into place, said extending edges being between flanges of some of said sections, said last-named sections being secured together at their said flanges with said edges between them. i v

13. A barge having a framework and outside plating including sections with flanges at their rims, the framework comprising bulkheads-and horizontally extending stiffening members along the tops and bottoms on some of the faces of said bulkheads, the uppermost and lowermost edges of the bulkheads extending aboveand below said members, said members engaging flanges on said sections, said extendingedges being between flanges of some of said sections, said last-named sections being secured together at their said flanges with said edges between them. 14. A barge having a framework and outside plating thereon, said framework comprising bulkheads, horizontal stiffening members along the tops on some of the faces of said bulkheads, the uppermost edges of the bulkheads extendingabove said members, and vertical reinforce ing members on said bulkheads terminating ads jacent the level of the horizontal members, said members engaging flanges on said sections, said extending edges being between flanges of some of said sections, the latter being secured together at theirsaid flanges with said edges between em, h 1

ends at substantially the same level as the horizontal members, said members engaging flanges on said sections, said edges being between flanges of some of said sections, the latter being secured at their said flanges with said edges between same.

FREDERIC R. HARRIS. 

